siamo arrivati

Our flight was quite pleasant. Departures and arrivals on time. We made friends on the plane and in the airport. After our arrival in Rome it took us some time to get our rental car. After an hour and a half of phone calls and emails things were worked out. With a foggy head and a foggy headed copilot, my wife, Tina, we entered the rush of the autostrada and were sucked in to its mayhem. It took us two and one half hours to get to Baia e Latina. The mountains and hilltop villages during the drive were beautiful and familiar. I started to know why I keep coming back every year. Upon our arrival Tina's father was working in the yard. Tina's mother was feeding 6 stray cats. Last year it was a female dog and her 6 puppies. My wife was occupied during most of that trip intent on feeding all of the neighborhood strays. Of course we had a beauiful midday meal of tortellini, rabbit, meat in tomato sauce, provolone cheese, olives and a salad. And of course plenty of vino. After that meal we rested for a few hours and then it was off again to visit relatives and more eating and drinking. That evening half the town came to wish Tina's parents bon voyage and good fortune as they were headed back to America. They brought small gifts for Tina's mother and for relatives in America. This went on all night. Yesterday is still foggy we stayed around town getting our sea legs back. Went to Piedmont, picked up Neopolitan pastries and a bottle of Prosseco and off to Tina's cousin Maria's house for the midday meal. Delicious tomato sause made with fresh homemade sausage. Perfectly cooked spaghetti al dente, sauteed red peppers, capocollo, mozzarella di buffala which was so juicy and fresh the water was dripping from my mouth. We also had some very spicy homemade pickled eggplant, more wine, homemade tiramisu, apple torte and more wine. Coffee and then home to sleep for me while Tina and her women cousins climbed up the local mountain along an ancient road which is now being restored. She picked wild asparagus and took pictures of the spectacular view from the top of the mountain. Naturally there is an old church up there with lookous and lots of World War II history. A sad and beauiful place. We still don't know what our plans for this week are exactly but we are headed for Sorrento and the Amalfi coast. I feel like some limoncello. Hope you are all well. Ciao for now.